A diplomatic crisis erupted between Israel and France on Tuesday over Paris’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state next month after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fostering “antisemitism.” In response, the Elysee Palace labeled Netanyahu’s claims as “abject” and “erroneous.”
“This is a time for seriousness and responsibility, not for conflation and manipulation,” the French presidency stated.
Netanyahu’s accusations appeared in a letter addressed to Macron, in which Netanyahu claimed that antisemitism had “surged” in France since Macron announced last month that he would recognize Palestinian statehood. Macron plans to make this formal recognition during a UN meeting in September, a decision that drew immediate backlash from Israel.
Netanyahu wrote, “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy; it is appeasement.” He argued that this move rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to release hostages, and emboldens those who threaten French Jews.
France Joins Growing List of Nations
By announcing its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood, France joins a growing list of nations that have taken similar steps since the Gaza war began nearly two years ago as at least 145 of the 193 UN member states now recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
France has long supported the “two-state solution,” as the French government asserts that recognizing a Palestinian state counters Hamas, which governs Gaza and opposes a two-state solution.
Additionally, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry condemned Netanyahu’s remarks as “unjustified and hostile to peace.” The ministry stated, “The old record of confusing criticism of the Israeli occupation and its crimes with antisemitism has become cracked and exposed, and no one is fooled.”
In response to Netanyahu’s allegations, the French presidency emphasized that France “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens,” condemning violence against the French Jewish community as “intolerable.” The presidency noted that since 2017, President Macron has consistently demanded strong actions against perpetrators of antisemitic acts, especially following the attack of 7 October, 2023.
Macron’s office indicated that Netanyahu’s allegations “will not go unanswered.” Benjamin Haddad, Macron’s minister for Europe, stated that France has “no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism,” adding that the issue, which “poisons our European societies,” must not be “exploited.”
Rising Antisemitism in France
France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community. Reported antisemitic acts in France surged from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023, before decreasing to 1,570 last year, according to the interior ministry.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu also criticized Australia, which plans to recognize Palestinian statehood next month. He labeled Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.” This personal attack occurred amid a diplomatic spat after Australia canceled the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman.
Shortly after, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the revocation of visas for Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that promotes peace and stability in the region.
